General Assembly Raised Bill No. 873 January Session, 2015 LCO No. 3292 *03292_______INS* Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE Introduced by: (INS) General Assembly Raised Bill No. 873 January Session, 2015 LCO No. 3292 *03292_______INS* Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE Introduced by: (INS) AN ACT EXPANDING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 38a-490b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2016): Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide coverage for hearing aids. [for children twelve years of age or younger.] Such hearing aids shall be considered durable medical equipment under the policy and the policy may limit the hearing aid benefit to one thousand dollars within a twenty-four-month period. Sec. 2. Section 38a-516b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2016): Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide coverage for hearing aids. [for children twelve years of age or younger.] Such hearing aids shall be considered durable medical equipment under the policy and the policy may limit the hearing aid benefit to one thousand dollars within a twenty-four-month period. This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 January 1, 2016 38a-490b Sec. 2 January 1, 2016 38a-516b This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 January 1, 2016 38a-490b Sec. 2 January 1, 2016 38a-516b Statement of Purpose: To expand health insurance coverage for hearing aids from children twelve years of age or younger to all insured individuals. [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]